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Case Study: Cadbury

Cadbury has a long tradition of concern for employee welfare. Today the company is delivering a programme that is in line with historic values but meets modern day needs - helping employees to keep fit and healthy, and feeling good about themselves.

Cadbury recognises that a healthy and happy workforce is crucial to the long term sustainability of the company.

Through Fit for Life, Cadbury aims to promote wellbeing to employees by focusing on prevention rather than cure, helping them to achieve a healthy work-life balance, providing education on health issues, healthy eating, disease awareness and lifestyle management, and engaging employees of all ages and levels of fitness.

Fit for Life is a lifestyle and activity programme which encompasses company-led events, and which has inspired a wealth of additional employee-led initiatives. While the programme is managed and organised centrally, it has been so successful at capturing the hearts and minds of employees, many activities are now led at a grass-roots level by employee volunteers who become Fit for Life champions.

Underpinning the programme is a themed calendar of events, including a range of activities which are grouped in four areas:

• Nutrition
• Physical activity
• Personal wellbeing
• Balance and relaxation

The programme has also been integrated within existing employee benefit schemes to help to reinforce the message, including options such as subsidised gym membership and cycle-to-work schemes.

A major benefit of Fit for Life is the early detection of significant health issues during health checks. Early detection can significantly reduce or avoid a costly sickness absence bill and, most importantly, increases the employees' chance of a full recovery.

Fit for Life was started in 2006 and two years on, over 40% of Cadbury's UK employees have had health checks, and demand continues. Classes on offer include aerobics, yoga, circuits and abs.

The company holds health fairs, and has also trialled therapies such as acupressure, reflexology and massage. Fit for Life has inspired hundreds of Cadbury employees to lead more active and healthier lifestyles.

This case study is featured in our booklet Workplace Wellbeing: The Food Industry in Action (pdf, 1.2Mb) . Cadbury Schweppes is a member of FDF's Workplace Wellbeing Group.

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Last reviewed: 25 Mar 2009